Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-21
ONLY FOR FUN.
4" How be you this mornin', Squire Dun

How be you this mornin', Squire Dun
MIN ?'
"Oh, middlin', Miss Patty; middlin'
Hain't quite SO spry as 1 was twenty odd
years ago; but hold on a bit and I'll help
you down." And so saying aldermanic 81
Dunning reached up large fat hand and
eased Miss Pattys descent from the one
horse shay that old Doane was Juggling at,
evidently not wishing to tarry, for she
seemed instinctively to conclude that if
Miss Patty stopped. there was no telling
| when she would resume her journey.
| You see, though Miss Patty was good
| old soul as ever lived. she was very much
given to harmless gossiping and she gen.
orally tarried long over the whine when
| she began to talk over her own troubles and
trials.
Miss Patty was, as she herself expressed
it, nigh on to 60, and, in fact, she admitted
the same thing for number of years, so
that most folks put it at 20 or Whereabouts.
Just now Miss Patty was in peck OF
| trouble-she had come down from the
Roseleaf farm in search of female help.
Mrs. Dunning, the hotel-keepers wife,
came out to greet the newcomer, being al
ways glad to see the tidy body, especially
as Miss Patty Slocum's butter was the best
for miles around, and she always made it q
! point to bring some along with her.
| Just now Uncle ST, as most people called
him, was grunting over the three gallon jar
OF buttercup yellow creamery.
Mrs. Dunning relieved the buttermaker
of her basket of eggs, and she herself gath
| cred up bunch of garden sass, and
brought up in the rear as the trio trudged
| through the garden and around to the am
pie hotel kitchen, Miss Patty remarking,
as they were passing the side piazza,
| I've got to have some help somehow or
other. I've inquired all the way along, but
| girls seem to be mighty scarce, alters the
way these days, when you want EN- to do
a bit OF work they are nowhere around. If
it warn't for the rheumatis now but
right here Miss Patty's voice was lost, as
she turned the corner of the great house.
| Though lost to view, she was indelibly
stamped on the memory of the group of
girls who sat on the front piazza, some in
low wicker rockers, one in a hammock.
swinging lazily, another half-sitting on the
railing, her saucy face half hidden by the
luxurlant woodbine that clambered up to
| the second story.
| 4 say, girls, come here, every one of
yoa," and the face that had been peeping
from the woodbine came into full view,
and the dainty, muslin-clad body sailed
| down the steps, and four others not at all
| alike, but everyone more or less pretty. fol-
lowed after her around the west side of the
| house, and within hearing of all that was
said in the kitchen.
| Mum is the word, now girls, don't YOU
| give an audible smile for your life. l think
the party in the immense sun bonnet
shaker, | suppose you'd call it's case
an original, too and | want to hear what
she Is going to do about her help. She
makes me think of old Aunt Hannah mn
at the Springs. This old body is lust such
a go-ahead-sharp as cricket, and, except
for the rheumatis, would be equal TO half q
dozen such girls as you and -
! When the girls had reached the desired
! spot right under high window that opened
out of the buttery, that was Mrs Dunnings
pride, and marvel of convenience, by the
by, they all sat down on long wooden
bench that was under great overhanging
lilac bushes, just now laden with immense
clusters of the lovely perfumed blossoms.
| Rose Stoneleigh, the leader of the group,
put one dimpled finger up to her lips, and
the others, in follow your leader style,
each raised finger, and they were as quiet
as mice. Presently, through the window,
came the voice of Mrs. Dunning:
| Indeed, you must stop minute, Miss
Slocum. You'll be all done out time YOU
get back home again"
mol thanks all the same. I'll try one
more place, and then I'll get back home
again"
at is too bad you can't find anybody.
| What is the particular rush, just now ?
Surely haying has not commenced with
you2"
"No; not exactly, but I've sight on
hand just now; got to do some pie plant,
and then them ere gooseberries are about
ripe enough to can, and in q couple OF
| weeks the cherries will be on hand and
poster the hired help anyway. I'd sooner
grub along anyhow than bother with any
of them if 'twant for the plaguey rheuma-
| tbs. 1t kinder ketches me wonst in while.
| and no use TO talk, it takes the spunk clean
out of me. | heard they had some sort of
| lie down to the Postoffice that was power
full good for SIGH cases, and guess must
| get quarters worth Just to try it. Feel
| sort of 'frsid to, too"
Girls, sit still, and l will be back in a
trice," and off flew Rose, Swimming past
| stately Helen Parker, who still sat on the
piazza, scratching away with her pen, on
an oval stand before her.
Can't stop to tell any fibs lust now. "
said Rose, as she flew up the broad stair
| way and into her room. Presently she
/ emerged an altogether different looking
person. In the place of muslin she had
| donned schoolgirl bingham, a white
apron and plain linen collar, her hair all
wrinkles out of perfectly natural, you
know. Down she went, stole back and
seized Mrs. Cummings blue bingham sun
| bonnet, and darling out to the wondering
| girls, had just time to signal them to come
| to the front, when Miss Patty emerged
| from the other side, and was Just about to
| ascend the steps OF the comical vehicle.
Mrs. Dunning turned after her, saying
hope you II succeed in your efforts, Miss
Slocum. If wasn't so busy I'd let Setina
come up a day or two and help you out,
but you see we have the seminary girls-at
least six of them-and it keeps one kinder
busy. Who, what on EARTH" Here the
good old lady had to stop in sheer amaze
| ment, for she recognized her sunbonnet
coming towards her with little BODY I'M
derneath.
| Rose did not stop for anything, but sailed
up to Miss Patty made demure little bow
and commenced: PLEASE, ma'am, / over
heard part of your conversation and thought
I'd offer myself, if you think | could strip
pie plant, or could help you anyway" and
she dropped her white lids as though she
was frightened at her own temeritv.
a" fou don'tlook as if you could do much.
How much do you expect to get a week,
| and where did you come from ?" oueried
business-like Miss Patty.
came from over yonder some miles,
and have a sick aunt, and want to earn
some money. Please try me, and if don't
suit need not stay"
Well, seem as how you come in the
! nick of time, and look kinder clipper like.
Eli take you along. Have you any recon-
| mends along?'
Mono, have not but Mrs. Dunning
| here knows me; she did not expect to see
me to-day hunting nlace y and tho sr,il